04/05/2026

LYFE MONDAY | MAY 4, 2026

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o Legal expert says bid could enhance protection beyond existing laws Taylor Swift moves to trademark voice, face against AI deepfakes

P OP superstar Taylor Swift filed trademark applications for two audio clips and one image of herself in what a trademark attorney said is an attempt to protect her voice and likeness from deepfake videos and audio created by artificial intelligence (AI). The applications were filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office recently and list Swift’s TAS Rights Management as being the owner of the audio clips and image. A spokesperson for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment nor did lawyers who were listed on the filings. In one of the audio clips, Swift is heard saying: “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift and you can listen to my new album The Life of a Showgirl on demand on Amazon Music Unlimited.” The second clip says: “Hey, it’s Taylor. My brand new album The Life of a Showgirl is out on Oct 3 and you

trademark filings can provide an additional layer of protection,” Gerben wrote. Gerben added registering a celebrity’s spoken voice is a new use of trademark registration that has not been tested in courts. “Historically, singers relied on copyright law to protect their recorded music. But AI technologies now allow users to generate entirely new content that mimics an artist’s voice without copying an existing recording, creating a gap that trademarks may help fill,” Gerben wrote. Gerben said the photo Swift is seeking to trademark serves a similar purpose. “By protecting a distinctive visual, down to Swift’s commonly worn jumpsuit and pose, Swift’s team may gain additional grounds to pursue claims against manipulated or AI-generated images that evoke her likeness,” he wrote. – Reuters

can click to pre-save it so you can listen to it on Spotify.” The image Swift is seeking to trademark is of her onstage in a sequined outfit, pink guitar in hand. Swift’s image and voice have been used in countless AI-generated deepfakes – from false advertising to fake political endorsements to explicit images. Actor Matthew McConaughey has had similar filings approved. He told the Wall Street Journal in January “we want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world.” Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who first publicised Swift made the applications on his blog, wrote they “are specifically designed to protect Taylor from threats posed by AI.” “While existing ‘Right of Publicity’ laws offer some protection against unauthorised use of a famous individual’s likeness,

Swift poses on the red carpet during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California. – REUTERSPIC

Google rolls out new anti-scam features for all Android users in Malaysia TO further keep Malaysians safe from financial fraud, Google has rolled out its enhanced fraud protection feature within Google Play Protect to all Android users in Malaysia. This initiative is supported by the National Cyber Security Agency and the National Security Council, and is designed to better safeguard mobile users against malware-enabled scams by blocking the installation of potentially risky sideloaded apps. The announcement was made at the Google 2026 Online Safety Dialogue, alongside Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. This is in line with the ministry’s “Kempen Internet Selamat”, aimed at bolstering nationwide digital safety against threats such as online scams. How enhanced fraud protection works Google’s feature blocks installation of internet-sideloaded apps from web browsers, messaging apps or file managers that attempt to access sensitive permissions commonly exploited for financial fraud. • Real-time inspection: With this enhancement, when someone attempts to install a potentially risky app from an internet-sideloading source – such as a web browser, messaging app or file manager – Google Play Protect inspects the declared permissions in real-time. • Automatic block: This enhancement will inspect the permissions of the app declared in real-time and specifically look for runtime block fraudulent financial promotions. Empowering Malaysians through digital literacy

Starting from the third quarter of 2026, Google will roll out its “Be Scam Ready” game in Bahasa Malaysia for Malaysia. This game immerses users in real-life scenarios to help them develop the critical thinking skills needed to spot a scam in the real world. In addition, Google is working with the community to scale literacy around scams. As part of the regional Scam Ready Asean initiative, supported with US$5 million (RM20 million) funding from Google, the Asean Foundation is scaling its impact right here in Malaysia. In collaboration with social change impact agency Ratio:Cause and local partners, the programme will reach over 200,000 Malaysians over the next two years with online scam prevention resources to navigate the digital world safely. By employing a train-the-trainer model, the initiative empowers community leaders to build a network of experts and deliver localised training and awareness programmes for Malaysians, especially youth and seniors. These efforts are reinforced by using interactive tools such as the “Be Scam Ready” game, which builds digital resilience for everyone. Beyond individual empowerment, the program also drives systemic impact by convening public and private sector leaders to share threat intelligence and strengthen policy coordination against digital fraud.

permissions frequently abused for financial fraud – such as reading SMSes, or intercepting one-time passwords. If the app requests access to these sensitive permissions, the installation is blocked. • Clear warnings: Consumers will receive a prompt explaining that the app was blocked because it requests access to sensitive data, which can increase the risk of identity theft or financial fraud. Multi-layered security ecosystem Google also announced two new updates that increase the accountability of content online and create a safer digital experience for users: • Android developer verification: Mandatory developer identity verification will be introduced to prevent repeat offenders from distributing harmful apps. By 2027, all apps on certified Android devices in Malaysia must come from verified developers. • Financial services verification: Since April 14, advertisers promoting financial services must be verified by regulators such as Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia before running ads on Google platforms, helping

Consumers will receive a prompt explaining that an app was blocked because it requests access to sensitive data.